Alec Baldwin is an American actor, comedian, and producer who has been active in the entertainment industry since 1980. He is best known for his roles in films such as Beetlejuice (1988), The Hunt for Red October (1990), Glengarry Glen Ross (1992), The Departed (2006), and Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018), as well as his Emmy-winning performance as Jack Donaghy on the NBC sitcom 30 Rock (2006-2013). He is also known for his impersonation of former President Donald Trump on the sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live (2016-2021), which earned him another Emmy award. He is also a columnist for The Huffington Post and a host of Match Game (2016-2021).
Alec Baldwin was born on April 3, 1958, in Amityville, New York, as the eldest of six children. His father was a high school teacher and coach, and his mother was a homemaker. He has three younger brothers, Daniel, William, and Stephen, who are also actors, and two sisters, Elizabeth and Jane. He attended George Washington University and New York University, where he studied acting.
Baldwin made his acting debut on the soap opera The Doctors (1980-1982) as Billy Allison Aldrich. He then appeared on another soap opera, Knots Landing (1984-1985) as Joshua Rush. He made his film debut in Forever, Lulu (1987) with Deborah Harry. He rose to fame with his roles in Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice (1988) as Adam Maitland, Mike Nichols’ Working Girl (1988) as Mick Dugan, Jonathan Demme’s Married to the Mob (1988) as Frank de Marco, and Oliver Stone’s Talk Radio (1988) as Dan.
Leading man
Baldwin established himself as a leading man with his role as Jack Ryan in The Hunt for Red October (1990), based on Tom Clancy’s novel. He also starred in Woody Allen’s Alice (1990) as Ed, and received critical acclaim for his role as Blake in Glengarry Glen Ross (1992), based on David Mamet’s play. He also appeared in films such as The Marrying Man (1991) with Kim Basinger, who became his first wife, The Shadow (1994) as Lamont Cranston/The Shadow, The Juror (1996) with Demi Moore, Ghosts of Mississippi (1996) as Bobby DeLaughter, The Edge (1997) with Anthony Hopkins, Mercury Rising (1998) with Bruce Willis, and Outside Providence (1999) with Amy Smart.
Baldwin transitioned to more supporting and comedic roles in the 2000s and 2010s. He worked with Martin Scorsese in The Aviator (2004) as Juan Trippe and The Departed (2006) as George Ellerby. He also worked with Wes Anderson in The Royal Tenenbaums (2001) as the narrator and The Boss Baby film franchise (2017-2022) as Theodore Templeton/The Boss Baby. He also starred in films such as Along Came Polly (2004) with Ben Stiller and Jennifer Aniston, Fun with Dick and Jane (2005) with Jim Carrey and Téa Leoni, Running with Scissors (2006) with Annette Bening, It’s Complicated (2009) with Meryl Streep and Steve MartinBaldwin was also involved in a fatal shooting incident on October 21, 2021, while filming the western film Rust in New Mexico. He accidentally fired a prop gun that contained a live bullet, killing cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and injuring director Joel Souza. Baldwin was charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter on January 31, 2023, by the Santa Fe County district attorney’s office. However, the charges were dropped on April 28, 2023, after new facts were revealed that required further investigation. Baldwin has expressed his sorrow and remorse over the incident and has cooperated with the authorities.
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Baldwin is married to Hilaria Thomas, a yoga instructor and podcaster, since 2012. They have six children together: Carmen Gabriela (born 2013), Rafael Thomas (born 2015), Leonardo Ángel Charles (born 2016), Romeo Alejandro David (born 2018), Eduardo Pau Lucas (born 2020), and María Lucía Victoria (born 2021). Baldwin also has a daughter, Ireland Eliesse (born 1995), from his previous marriage to Kim Basinger (1993-2002).
Baldwin is one of the most versatile and prolific actors of his generation, who has worked in various genres and mediums. He is also one of the most controversial and outspoken celebrities of his time, who has faced many challenges and criticisms in his personal and professional life. He is a complex and talented artist who has left a mark on the entertainment industry.